Convertible hay-rake and stalk-cutter.



Patented Apr. I7, |900.

W. C. ZICKEFOOSE.

CONVERTIBLE HAY BAKE AND STALK CUTTER.

(Application led Nov. 11, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

11u: sums PETERS 00, Pnoouwa. wnsulum'on. D, c.

` Patented'Apr. I7, |900.

C. ZICKEFOUSE CONVERTIBLE HAY BAKE AND STALK CUTTER.

(Application led Nov. 11, 1899.)

2 Shasta-Sheet 2. n

(No Model.)

ma Mouans PETERS co.. PMQTMIYHO., wnnmeon. n, c

PATENT OFFICE.

W'ILLIAM C. ZICKEFOOSE, 0F DES MOINES, IOVA.

CONVE-RTIBLE HAY-RAKE AND `STALK-CUTTER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,782, dated April 17, 1900.

Appiioation nod November 11,1899. serial No. 736,615. No model.)

To all whom t may concern: f

YBe iti-known that I, WILLIAM C. Z'ICKE- FOOSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Convertible Hay-Rake and Stalk-Cutter, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a convertible hayrake and cornstalk-cutter; and the primary obj ect is to provide an improved trip and locking mechanism for the hand-operable rakeadjusting lever whereby the driver may release the locking device by foot-pressure and operate the rake-adj usting lever by hand,thus leaving his hands `free to drive the team.

A further object is to'provide a simple machine by which the operation of raking hay and of cutting cornstalks may be carried out by a few changes in a single machine, thus saving the farmer the cost of two machines for the performance of the Work separately.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of devices and in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View illustrating the complete machine with the exception of the draft-tongue which is used for drawing themachine when adj ust-edl to serve as a rake, the tonguebeing shown by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the machine, omitting the draftappliances. Fig.,3 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation illustrating the operation of the trip for releasing the locking-bar from the rake-adjusting lever. Fig. 4

is an enlarged detail cross-section through a part of the stalk-cutter, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line L1 4 of Fig. 2.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

10 designates the main frame, which is provided with the cross-bars 11, that brace the sides of said frame. A seat-spring 12 is secured firmly to one of these. cross-bars, said spring carrying an ordinary drivers seat 13.

in the side rails. ,This rake-head carries a series of curved tines or teeth 15 of ordinary construction, andan adjusting-lever 16 is secured firmly to the rake-head at a point which disposes the free end of the lever within convenient reach of the driver occupying the seat. Said lever 16 is provided with a longitudinal slot -17 the lower edge of which is beveled to form a locking-tongue 18. (See Figs. 2 and .3.) A pivotal locking-bar 19 passes loosely through the slot of the rake-lever, and in the lower edge of this locking-bar is formed a series of notches 20, into any one of which may lit the locking-tongue of the rake-lever, according to the position of the rake-head and the lever attached thereto. This locking-bar extends forward beyond the rake-head, so as to be supported pivotally at 2l on one` of the cross-bars '11 of the machine-frame, and the locking-bar is thus pivotally supported independently of the rake-head, so that it may be raised out of engagement with the rake-lever.

One of the important features of my invention consists in a foot-operated trip adapted to release the locking-bar from the rake-lever without requiring the driver to lay down the driving-reins, and to this end I employ a triptreadle 22, which is mounted pivotally alongside of the pivoted end of the locking-bar. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) I prefer to employ a fixed bail 23 as a means forpivotally supporting the locking-bar and the foot-treadle, and this treadle is fulcrumed at a point intermediate of its length, thus leaving both'ends of the treadle free. On the forward end of this treadle is secured or provided a foot piece or rest 24, and at the rear end of the treadle is a laterally-extending stud 25, arranged to fit beneath the locking-bar at a point in rear of its pivot. The foot-rest prevents the operators foot from slipping on the treadle, and when pressure is applied to one end of the treadle the other end thereof 'and the stud is lifted in order that the stud may exert upward pressure against the pivotal lockingbar to move the notched edge thereof out of engagement with the locking-tongue on the rake-lever. The locking-bar is adapted to ICO - gravity, when pressure is removed from the which are applied to opposite sides of the .cornstalk-cutter mechanism is-removed or disconnected and a draft-tongue (shown by.;`

dotted' lines in Fig. l) isnbolted to theframe 10. This frame is provided with la central draft-bar 26, which terminates substantially at the front cross-rail 11. `The draft-tongue for the rake-frame consists of two pieces 27,

draft-bar 26, and are secured firmly, but removably, thereto by means of the bolts 28.

I will now proceed to .describe the stalkcutter mechanism, which is adapted to be -usedin connection with the frame of the rake;

but I desiretopremisethat the draft-tongue '27 is detached from the rake-frame, and a three-horse draft appliance, to be presently described,is used in connection with the stalkcutter and the machine.V

One `element of thestalk-cutter appliance l' is ahanger 29, which is provided with a lon- `gitu'dinal slot 30.r This hanger is arranged in a vertical position beneath thefront crossrail 11V off the frame, and it is connected thereto Aby a vertical-p-in-bolt 3l, the latter passing through the rail 11 and the upper part -of the hanger.

y (See Fig. .4.) This bolt.` 31 .formsa meansfor permitting removal of the hanger and the partscarried thereby when vso desired. Washers 32 are fitted between the'upper :end of .the hanger and thel draftbar 26 in order to space the hanger relative to the frame andv to take up the wear between said hanger and the frame. The hanger is,

furthermore, provided with a vertical series of transverse openingsv 33, whichv intersect with c the slotv 30, and through said slot extendsthe cutter-axle 34, the latter-arranged ina substantially-horizontal position below the front Lpartfof the machine-frame 10. The axle `is -preventedffrom having endwise movementin- Y 'the-slot ofthe hanger by means ofthe washers 35, which arentted on the axleto bear against opposite sides of the hanger, and said washers lare retained in Vplace by the keys 36,

'which are fastened tothe axle. of'theaxle in the slottedvhangerjis determined by a 'limiting pin or bolt37, vwhichfis -fittedfin -one of the openings 33 to extend *across thev slot in the hanger and tolie above theaxle. It -is evident that this pin'or bolt maybe fitted in any one of the series of open I lings-1in order to determine the position of the cuttena'xle with relation to the frame. `The Y vaxle 34 extends :for la considerable distance carries the two cutters 37 38.

beyond opposite sides of the hanger, and it Each cutter consists of, a pair of heads 39, having their The position edges recessed to form the tongues 40, to which are'iirmly-secured the blades 41. The cutters formed by the pairs of heads and the blades are secured tothe axle to rotate therewith, and this cutter mechanism is adapted to rest upon the ground and to rotate on the advance lof, the machine, whereby the blades are presented to the stalks in order to cnt the latter as the revoluble cutters ride over the same. The draft appliance is shown generally in Fig. 1 as having side bars 42, connected loosely withft'he vends Vofl the-cutteraxle; but it is to be understood that this draft appliance may be constructed in any suita 1e way for hitching to a team of three horses,

'the latter adapted to `walk in the` spaces between the corn rows.

I employ a rake-clearer for partly removi-n'g the hay from the tinesionthe elevation of the rake mechanism.` This clearer consist-s rofa 'head43, having a depending series of inger's44`, projecting through the spaces between the rakeftines, and to the ends of this clearer-head are fastened the links 45, which rarepconnected pivotally to arm 46 on the side vrailsotl-the frame, whereby the clearer-head rests by-gravity upon the tines Vof the rake.

"The apparatus is provided with a transverse axle 47, having spindles 48, upon which are ymounted supportingewheels, whereby the rake may be' properly supported, and when .it is desiredto use the cutter withoutV the rake the lever 16 maybeoperated to raise the rake froinits operative position.

Changes 'within `the scope of the appended elaiinsmaysbe vrnade in theform and proportionwof some of the parts,'p`whi-l`e their essential features lare retained and the spiritV of the inventionis embodied rI-Ience I -do'not desire to be limited tothe precise formof vall vthe parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

,Having thus described the'inven'tion, what "Iclaimis-` 1A Y 1. The combination with a frame,of a rake- IOO IIO

head pivotally mounted therein, a lever 'fixed tothe lhead-for operating it, a locking-bar adapted forengagementwithfthe lever to hold it lat different points of its adjustment, afoottreadle pi'v'o'ted adjacent to the locking-bar,

Ianda stud carriedby the treadleand'engaga ing lthe'100km33091' fOr vllOVrlg' it out of` ene' sagement withtheiever.

f 2. The combination witha'fra-me, of a rakehead pivoted therein, a lever fixed to the head for oscillating it, a notched'locking-bar for ,engaging the lever to hold itat d'ierent kpoints Aof its adjustment, said bar havingpiv# otal connection with the frame, a treadle pivf oted concentric with the-bar, and astud upon the treadle lengaging the bar to move'it-out of engagement vwith the lever. l v

3. The combination with a frame, and a rake-head,'of a lever provided with a Jslot and a-locking-tongue, a notched locking-bar fitted loosely in the slot of said lever, and afoottreadle disconnected from the Vl'ockingebar and having means for exerting pressure in an justable rake mechanism upon the frame for 1o upward direction thereon, substantially as adjustment into and out of operative position. described. I testimony that I claim the foregoing as 4. A convertible hay-rake and stalk-cutter myown I have hereto axed my signature in comprising a frame provided with supportthe presence of two Witnesses.

ing-Wheels to support the frame, a rotatable WILLIAM C. ZIOKEFOOSE. cutter removably connected with the frame, Witnesses: draft appliances for alternate attachment to E J. BOYNTON,

the frame and cutter respectively, and an ad-v J. E. GIBSON. 

